Frank's Casing Crew and Rental Tools, Inc.

Frank's International, Inc.

Scott Arceneaux

Vernon Joseph Bouligny

Charles Michael Webre

Brian David Begnaud

Logan Essex Smith

Kirkrai Yuvamitra

Logan Smith

Brian Begnaud

A tong and method, in which the tong includes a first plate, and a gear that is rotatable relative to the first plate. The gear defines a slot laterally therethrough. An inner surface of the gear includes at least three cam surface. The tong also includes at least three jaws coupled to the first plate such that the at least three jaws are radially movable with respect to the first plate and are prevented from circumferential movement with respect thereto. The at least three jaws are engageable with the at least three cam surfaces such that rotation of the gear relative to the first plate causes the at least three jaws to move in a radial direction between an extended position and a retracted position.

Power tong

Methods and apparatus for adapting an elevator for use with a tubular are provided. The apparatus includes one or more axial extensions configured to engage one or more slip bodies of the elevator. The one or more axial extensions include a radial contact surface configured to slide along the tubular and an axial engagement surface configured to bear on an upset of the tubular. The one or more axial extensions are flexible such that the radial contact surface is radially displaceable with respect to the tubular.

Slip-type elevator adapter

The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for lifting a single joint of pipe. The single joint elevator of the present invention comprises, in one embodiment, a pair of deployable jaws cooperating with a pair of static jaws to secure a pipe within the slot of a generally horseshoe-shaped body. The deployable jaws of the single joint elevator of the present invention may be rotatably deployable or translatably deployable, or both. In one embodiment, each jaw, including the static jaws and the deployable jaws, comprises a pipe slip movably disposed within the jaw to secure a pipe segment within the slot and to self-tighten as the weight of the pipe segment secured within the single joint elevator is transferred to the slips and the jaws.

Single joint elevator having deployable jaws

The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for lifting a joint of pipe. The elevator configured to grip and lift a rigid shoulderless pipe segment having a substantially circular cross-section includes a U-shaped body having a proximal end configured to receive an outer surface of the rigid shoulderless pipe segment and a distal end with a first prong and a second prong, a first deployable jaw coupled to the first prong of the U-shaped elevator; a second deployable jaw coupled to the second prong of the U-shaped elevator; a first static jaw positioned in the proximal end of the U-shaped body; and a second static jaw positioned in the proximal end of the U-shaped body.

Single joint elevator and method for releasably securing a tubular segment. A generally horseshoe-shaped body has a slot for receiving a tubular segment, and an actuator assembly that selectively moves opposing jaws from a removed position to a deployed position to grip and retain the tubular segment within the slot of the body while hoisting the body. The deployable jaws are either rotatably or translatably moved from the removed position to the deployed position and may be pneumatically, hydraulically, and/or electrically actuated. The actuator assembly may include wedges operatively coupled to actuators for selectively biasing the wedges against the jaws, or a cam ring rotationally coupled to the body and rotated by an actuator coupled between the body and the cam ring, wherein the cam ring has an inner cam surface for inwardly biasing the opposing jaws.

Single joint elevator with gripping jaws and method of hoisting a tubular member

A single joint elevator for releasably securing a tubular segment for hoisting the tubular segment into position to be threadably coupled to a pipe string suspended in a borehole. The elevator comprises two pivotally coupled jaw retainers securing jaws for engaging and gripping the tubular segment. A powered door is pivotally coupled to a first jaw retainer for selectively securing the second jaw retainer. The powered door includes a pivotable collar, a linear actuator assembly, and a linkage mechanism for selectively closing the door and clamping the distal end of the second jaw retainer to the distal end of the first jaw retainer. The actuator assembly clamps the jaw retainers with sufficient force for the jaws to grip and support the tubular segment for lifting.

Single joint elevator with jaws secured by a powered door

A control line guide and manipulating arm can protect and guide one or more control lines which are desired to be attached and lowered into a wellbore with a tubular string. The control lines may be moved toward a tubular string, can be clamped to the tubular string, and the tubular string and control lines may be lowered into the wellbore. When the elevator reaches a predetermined position, the spider slips are preferably set. To protect the control lines, the control lines are moved in a substantially radial direction outward from the tubular string. The spider slips are closed only after the control lines are retained outward. After another tubular joint is connected to the tubular string and the elevator grips the tubular string, the spider slips are preferably released. For easier attachment, of the control lines to the tubular string, the control lines are moved in a substantially radial direction toward the tubular string. As the tubular string and the control lines are lowered into the wellbore, the manipulator arm may again begin retracting to move the control lines away from the approaching elevator as well as to move the control lines out of the way of the movement of the spider slips. The control line guide, which preferably passes through the spider, protects the control lines from the spider slips by allowing the control lines to remain outside the path of the spider slips as they open and close.

Control line guide and method of using same

When the spider slips are open, the control line can be moved toward the pipe string, can be clamped to the pie string and string and line can be lowered into the well. When the pipe connector approaches the spider, the spider slips need to be set. To move the control line into a safe area, it is thrust radially outward from the pipe string. The slips are closed while the line is retained outward. To keep them safe while work proceeds just above the spider an optional trap is closed to retain the control lines until the spider slips are opened. The lines can be manually pulled outward but it is more easily done with a powered thruster. Optional sequencing controls can start with moving the control line away from the pipe, closing the line trap, and closing the spider slips. Reversing the procedure, the sequencing controls open the spider slips, release the line trap, and moves the line toward the pipe.

Control line guide

A wellbore tubular handling system and method is provided for operation in holding and lowering tubulars, such as tubing strings, casing strings, pipe strings, and the various components thereof, at a rig site. The handling system utilizes a shock table with a compressible support surface that compressively moves with a selected compression rate in response to the weight of the wellbore tubular string. The shock table preferably has a shock table body mounted below the rig floor and may conveniently replace the rotary table master bushing except for a flange which supports the shock table on the rig floor. A split-sectioned landing spear can be split open to an open position to thereby allow large items such as collars or other string components to pass through the shock table. In a closed position, the landing spear supports, preferably indirectly, an upper collar of the wellbore tubular string to thereby support the weight of the wellbore tubular string and apply the weight to the compressible support surface of the shock table.

Growing community of inventors

Lafayette, LA, United States of America

Scott Arceneaux